Introducing this year’s Planet Forward Correspondents; a dynamic and diverse group of young people passionate about bringing environmental storytelling to their campuses, peer groups, and to Planet Forward readers all over the world.

Students this year will create multimedia stories covering water issues, protection of our planet’s incredible biodiversity, the ways that conflict between stakeholders impacts environmental policies, and much more. In addition to showcasing each students’ creativity and depth of research, the stories will also capture their dedication to examine the change-makers, organizations, and innovations that move the planet forward.

Members of the Planet Forward Correspondent program go through an application process in order to be selected and represent their schools. This year’s applicants were particularly competitive and the students you see below have already dedicated considerable time and energy to this topic that informs every facet of the human experience.

I am thrilled to not only introduce our Correspondents but also welcome our expanded editorial team which now includes Planet Forward Associate Director Kim Ossi to the correspondent mentorship role, as well as Eli Kintisch, George Washington University Ted Turner Professor of Environmental Media.

We can’t wait for you to read, watch, and listen to these students’ upcoming work and keep track of what this generation of inspiring and motivated storytellers are publishing. Their voices are needed now more than ever and we can’t wait to bring you their insights. 

Click on the profiles below to read each Correspondent’s bio and stay tuned for more stories!

Senior Correspondents

Eva Kotobuki Sideris

Planet Forward Sr. Correspondent | California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt

Ciara Thomas

Planet Forward Sr. Correspondent | Tuskegee University

Correspondents

Kenneth Andrews

Planet Forward Correspondent | Texas Tech University

Kunjal Bastola

Planet Forward Correspondent | Northwestern University

Abbey Leibert

Planet Forward Correspondent | SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry

Paul Leoni

Planet Forward Correspondent | George Washington University

Des Lewis

Planet Forward Correspondent | Florida State University

Danny Nicholson

Planet Forward Correspondent | Teesside University

Maggie Rhoads

Planet Forward Correspondent | George Washington University

Devin Santikarma

Planet Forward Correspondent | Middlebury College

Mykah Scott

Planet Forward Correspondent | Tuskegee University

Farron Taijeron

Planet Forward Correspondent | University of Guam

Maria Jose Vargas

Planet Forward Correspondent | Middlebury Institute of International Studies